Patent GB-591393-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus or appliances for playing games
IPC: A63F9/14
Filed: 1945-05-10
Abstract: 591,393. Games. JOLLY, E. E., and DUTTON, H. May 10, 1945, No. 11672. [Class 132 (ii)] Race game apparatus comprises a plurality of movable objects associated with winding reels on one series of shafts connected to handle-operated centrifugal governors on another series of shafts, rocker beams or the like mechanically associated with the governors and reels, and adapted to effect de-clutching and re-clutching of the reels with the handles according to the speed of the governors, means whereby all the rocker beams are permitted, under the weight of the governors, simultaneously to effect clutching of all reels with the governors through reduction gearing, and cause, on the turning of the handles at speeds below that at which the governors declutch the reels, forward propulsion of the objects against resistance, and means whereby the winning object is enabled automatically to bring into operation power sufficient to reversely tilt all the rocker beams with consequential declutching of all the reels, whereby all the objects are returned to the starting position. In the embodiment shown a number of model boats 1 are drawn through a tank of water by trolleys 3 each operated by a cord 6 wound on a reel 5 rotated by a handle 15 on a shaft 16 through chain and sprocket gearing 21. Each of the shafts 16 carries a centrifugal governor 18, movement of whose sleeve 19 controls, through a lever 25, the engagement and disengagement of a clutch 5a on the reel shaft. If the speed of any one of the hand driven shafts 16 exceeds a predetermined value, the sleeve 19 rises to cause disengagement of the clutch, and the particular boat moves back towards the starting position under the influence of a weight 7 carried by a cord loop attached to the rear of the trolley 3, until the speed is reduced to effect re-engagement of the clutch. To start a race, projections 28b, 29b, of spring loaded levers 28, 29, Fig. 4, are drawn clear of notches 31a, 31b, in a vertically movable bar 31 formed in two portions with a pin and slot connection 32. In this position a rod 33 at the lower end of the bar 31 rotates a shaft 33a and arms 34 into a position in which connections 35 between the arms 34 and levers 25 are inoperative, enabling the weight of the governor sleeves 19 to effect engagement of all the clutches 5. The trolley of the winning boat strikes a lever 36 at the end of the tank which operates, through connections 38, 40, a crank arm 41 on the shaft 33a, to cause engagement of the projections 28b, 29b, with the notches 31a, 31b, and upward movement of the bar 31 and connections 35, thus effecting disengagement of all the clutches and the return of the boats to the starting position. A light 47 is illuminated by the winning boat, and each of the levers 25 operates a contact 44 controlling a light for indicating when the boat is moving forwardly, and a second contact 44a controlling another light 46 of a different colour which is illuminated when the predetermined speed of the shaft 16 is exceeded and the boat moves rearwardly. The attendant may stop any race by operating a trip lever initiating upward movement of the bar 31. Model horses moving along slots in a platform may take the place of boats, or the player objects may be moved over a sheet of glass or the like by magnets placed below the glass. According to the Provisional Specification control of the levers 25 may be effected electromagnetically.